Catheter devices with damping assemblies for core wires

Abstract

A damping assembly for a core wire of an ultrasonic catheter assembly includes a body for receiving the core wire. The body includes a bore extending from a proximal end of the body. The bore is defined by an interior surface of the body and includes an insertion region at the proximal end and a compression region disposed distal to the insertion region. A plurality of compression members are disposed within the compression region of the bore. A retention member extends at least partially into the compression region to axially compress the plurality of compression members. The interior surface of the body defining the insertion region of the bore corresponds in shape to at least a portion of an exterior surface of the retention member to facilitate insertion of the retention member into the bore.

1 . A damping assembly for a core wire of an ultrasonic catheter assembly, the damping assembly comprising:
 a body for receiving the core wire, the body comprising a bore extending from a proximal end of the body, wherein the bore is defined by an interior surface of the body and comprises an insertion region at the proximal end and a compression region disposed distal to the insertion region;   a plurality of compression members disposed within the compression region of the bore; and   a retention member extending at least partially into the compression region to axially compress the plurality of compression members, wherein the interior surface of the body defining the insertion region of the bore corresponds in shape to at least a portion of an exterior surface of the retention member to facilitate insertion of the retention member into the bore.   
     
     
         2 . The damping assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the retention member comprises a first portion extending from a proximal end thereof and a second portion extending from a distal end thereof, and   the first portion comprises a different cross-sectional shape than the second portion.   
     
     
         3 . The damping assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the interior surface of the body defining the insertion region corresponds in shape to at least a portion of the first portion of the retention member. 
     
     
         4 . The damping assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the first portion is substantially block-shaped and the second portion comprises a cylindrical-shaped peg extending distally from the first portion and contacting the plurality of compression members to axially compress the plurality of compression members. 
     
     
         5 . The damping assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the compression region of the bore comprises a cylindrically-shaped cavity corresponding in size to the cylindrical-shaped peg. 
     
     
         6 . The damping assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the insertion region of the bore comprises a plurality of grooves to receive corners of the first portion to facilitate insertion of the retention member into the bore. 
     
     
         7 . The damping assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the bore further comprises a rotation region extending between the insertion region and the compression region, the rotation region permitting rotation of the retention member therein after insertion into the bore via the insertion region to retain the retention member in the bore. 
     
     
         8 . The damping assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the insertion region comprises one or more insertion features corresponding in shape to one or more exterior surface components of the retention member to facilitate insertion of the retention member into the bore. 
     
     
         9 . The damping assembly of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the insertion region comprises one or more locking features corresponding in shape to the one or more exterior surface components of the retention member, and   the one or more locking features extend from a distal end of the insertion region and include ends that are disposed distally of the proximal end of the bore to retain the retention member at a desired position within the bore.   
     
     
         10 . The damping assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of compression members comprise O-rings. 
     
     
         11 . A system for modifying intravascular lesions comprising:
 an ultrasonic generator configured to generate an electric signal;   an ultrasonic transducer communicatively coupled to the ultrasonic generator to receive the electric signal and generate vibrational energy; and   a catheter assembly comprising:
 an ultrasonic connector coupling a core wire to the ultrasonic transducer to receive the vibrational energy therefrom; and 
 a damping assembly comprising:
 a body receiving the core wire, the body comprising a bore defined by an interior surface of the body, wherein the bore comprises an insertion region at a proximal end of the body and a compression region disposed distal to the insertion region; 
 a plurality of compression members disposed within the compression region of the bore; and 
 a retention member extending at least partially into the compression region to axially compress the plurality of compression members, wherein the interior surface of the body defining the insertion region of the bore corresponds in shape to at least a portion of an exterior surface of the retention member to facilitate insertion of the retention member into the bore. 
 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the retention member comprises a first portion extending from a proximal end thereof and a second portion extending from a distal end thereof, and   the interior surface of the body defining the insertion region corresponds in shape to at least a portion of the first portion of the retention member.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the first portion is substantially block-shaped and the second portion comprises a cylindrical-shaped peg extending distally from the first portion and contacting the plurality of compression members to axially compress the plurality of compression members, and   the compression region of the bore comprises a cylindrically-shaped cavity corresponding in size to the cylindrical-shaped peg.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the insertion region of the bore comprises a plurality of grooves to receive corners of the first portion. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the bore further comprises a rotation region extending between the insertion region and the compression region, the rotation region permitting rotation of the retention member therein after insertion into the bore via the insertion region to retain the retention member in the bore. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the insertion region comprises one or more insertion features corresponding in shape to one or more exterior surface components of the retention member to facilitate insertion of the retention member into the bore. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the insertion region comprises one or more locking features corresponding in shape to the one or more exterior surface components of the retention member, and   the one or more locking features extend from a distal end of the insertion region and include ends that are disposed distally of the proximal end of the bore to retain the retention member at a desired position within the bore.   
     
     
         18 . A method for making a catheter assembly for modifying intravascular lesions, the method comprising:
 disposing a core wire within a body of a damping assembly, the body defining a bore;   disposing a plurality of compression members in the bore around the core wire; and   inserting a retention member into the bore by aligning one or more exterior surface components of the retention member with one or more insertion features of the bore and compressing the plurality of compression members with the retention member such that the plurality of compression members damp vibrational energy in the core wire.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein inserting the retention member in the proximal end further comprises rotating the retention member in a rotation region of the damping assembly bore until the one or more exterior surface components of the retention member are aligned with one or more locking features in the bore. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein, once the one or more exterior surface components are aligned with the one or more locking features, the plurality of compression members force the one or more exterior surface components into the one or more locking features.